Cushion heel



lApril 30, 1929. J. BELPDIO 1,711,302

CUSHION HEEL Filed sept. .18, 1925 Fg. E.

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BY fn; Wm ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 30,

umTi'LDv STATES JOBBY BELPEDIO, F .BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

CUSHION HEEL.

Application led September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,047.

The present invention relates to improvements in cushion heels, and hasfor an object to provide a cushion heelformed of rubber or the like, -ofrelatively great resiliency,

which at the same time is of suiicient hardness and wear resistingquality as to provide l a substantial heel support adapted to maintainits original shape over a relatively long period of use, and in whichdeterioration due to wearing out of the rubber is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a cushion heel having a high resiliencycushioning element or means, combined ,with a ground gripping tread inthe nature of a vacuum cup, adapted to cooperate with thecushioningelement in such manner that as the same is compressed thetread is gripped with the ground to effectually resist slippage. A stillfurther air cushion means adapted to provide more resilient cushioning,and which is so arranged that internal collapse or edge separation ofthe cushion heel from the leather heel is prevented. J

It is proposed in the present embodiment of the invention to provide arubber heel v provided with an interiorly disposed cushioning area atthe inner or non-tread side'of relatively great resiliency, and a treadsurface of wear resisting consistency including means adapted whenpressure is applied to the heel to compress the cushioning area, andfurther to provide such means in the form of a vacuum cup for thepurpose of forming a ground gripping element to prevent slippage.

With the ab'ove and other objects in view, embodiments of the inventionare shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will behereinafter more fully described With reference thereto, and theinvention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

, In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper side of a cushion heel,according to the present embodiment of the invention; v

Fig. 2 is a pers ective view of the lower or tread side thereo Fig. 3 isa longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereofshowing it attached to ashoe, and in compressed relation;

object is toprovide a cushion heel including F ig. 5 is a plan view ofthe upper side of a cushion heel, according -to a modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; andv Fig. 7 is alongitudinal sectional view thereof, showing it attached to a shoe, andin compressed relation.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral ligures of the drawings. y

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4thereof, the embodiment of the invention shown therein comprises aresilient heel body 10 formed of rubber of such consistency as to beWear resisting and of sufficient resilience as to provide a cushioningtread or ground gripping surface. A series of nail receiving holes 11 isprovided in inwardly spaced relation to the periphery, the holes beingprovided with countersink portions 12 and annular bosses 13 surroundingthe portions 12.

vUpon the upper side of the heel body, and in inwardly spaced relationto its periphery, there is provided a circular walled recess 14, andwithin this recess, and. 'n inwardly` 8 spaced concentric relation toits wall, there is provided a circular cushioning element 15 ofrelatively softer rubber than the heel body, as sponge or crepe rubber,and which is homogeneously joined to the heel body by vulcanizing or thelike. The upper 'surface of the cushioning element is flush with theupper surface of the heel body, and the annular space 16 about the sameforms an air pocket, which in the useof the heel functions as an a1rcushion.

The tread surface of the heel body is provided in co-axial relation withthe cushioning element with a dome-shaped circular boss 17, ofsubstantially smaller diameter than the cushioning element, andprojecting with respect to the tread surface,`and in annularly spacedrelation thereto there is formed a rounded circular rib 18, projectingfrom the tread surface to a slightly less degree than the boss 17, theinner diameter of the rib being less than that of the cushioningelenient, while the outer diameter is greater than that of the circularwall of the recess 14, so that said rib is substantially Aopposedbeneath 105 the circularv air cushion space 16.

The heel is attached to the leather heel portion 19 of the shoe by meansof nails 20, and in such attached relation the soft interior cushioningarea insures a constantly tight engagement at the edge between therubber and the leather heels.

In Fig. 4 the heel is shown in its compressed ground engaging relation,the weight of the wearer being imposed thereon. In this relation thecushioning element is compressed through engagement of the boss 17 withthe ground, and during such compression the annular rib 18 engages theground in a manner as to produce a vacuum gripping contact therewith. Asthe heel is lifted from the ground it assumes the normal shape shown inFig. 3. While the vacuum cup vgripping effeet provided by the rib 18 issuilicient to prevent slipping, the projecting boss 17 tends to breaktheI vacuum as the heel is lifted, so that any tendency of the heel tostick and thereby impair walking is prevented. It will'be seen that ahigh resiliency cushioning effect is produced, and at the same time thebody of the heel is such that a substantial support is afforded which iswear resisting to a high degree, the cushioning inner tread surfaceprovided by the boss 17 and rib 18 furthermore relieving the edgeportion of the heel 'from considerable wear.

In Figs. 5 to 7 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention inwhich the cushioning element consists of acircular portion 21 formedintegrally with the heel body in concentric spaced relation within therecess 14, and provided with a circular concave recess 22 inwardlyspaced from its outer edge to rovide an air cushion pocket, which inconjunction with the air space 16 provides an air cushioning areasupported against collapse by engagement of the portion 21 with theunder surface of the leather heel portion 19. The construction rendersthe central area of greater resiliency than the peripheral portion, thecentral air cushion portion functionin in substantially the same manneras/ the so rubber cushion element 15 of the first described embodiment.v Irhave illustrated and described preferre and satisfactory embodimentsof the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having t-hus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is A 1. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient heelbody of rubber having a tread surface, an upper surface, and aperipheral surface, said upper surface being provided with a recess ininwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface, and a cushioningelement also of rubber and of greater resiliency than said heel boddisposed in said recess, and

-substantially integrally connected to the heel body, said heel having aspace in relation to said cushioning element into which said elementexpands in its compressed relation.

2. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a treadsurface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, said upper surfacebeing provided with a recess in inwardly spaced relation to saidperiph'eral surface, and a cushioning element of greater resiliency thansaid heel body having its upper surface substantially flush with theupper surface of said heel body disposed in said recess in inwardlyspaced relation to the wall of said recess to form an air pocketsurrounding said cushioning element, said cushioning element adapted toexpand into said air pocket in its compressed relation.

3. A, cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a treadsurface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, cushioning means ofgreater resiliency than saidheel body within said heel in inwardlyspaced relation to said peripheral surface, and projectling means onsaid tread surface in opposed relation tao said cushioning means adaptedupon pressure being applied against said ,tread surface to compress saidcushioning means. v

4. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a treadsurface, 'an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, cushioning meansof greater resiliency than said heel body within said heel in inwardlyspaced relation to said peripheral surface, a continuous projecting ribon said tread surface in in- Wardly spaced relation to said peripheralsurface and surrounding an inner recessed area to form a vacuum cup,said rib being opposed to said cushioning means and adapted uponpressure being applied against said tread surface to simultaneouslycompress said cushioning means and form a vacuum grip with the groundsurface.

5. Al cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a treadsurface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, cushioning means ofgreater resiliency than said heel. body within s aid heel in inwardlyspaced relation to said peripheral surface, a continu,-

ous projecting rib on said tread surface in inwardly spaced relation tosaid peripheral surface and surrounding an inner recessed area to form avacuum cup, a central boss within said recessed area. projecting withrespect to the projected plane of said rib, said boss being opposed tosaid cushioning means and adapted. upon pressure being applied to. saidtread surface to compress said cushioning means, and said rib adapted tosimultaneously form a! vacuum grip with the ground.

6.. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient rubber heel body having atread surface, an inner surface, and a peripheral surface, said innersurface being provided with a recess in inwardly spaced relation to saidperipheral surface, a circular cushioning element of relsaid treadsurface in opposed relation to said atively softer rubber than said heelbody secushioning element adapted upon pressure l0 cured in said recessin inwardly spaced relabeing applied against said tread surface to tionto the peripheral wall thereof to form an compress said cushioningmeans. i

5 airl pocket about said cushioning element, the Signed at Bridgeport,in the county of upper surface of said cushioning element be- Fairfield,and State of Connecticut, thislth ing substantially iush with the uppersurface day of September, 1925. of said heel body, and projecting means011 JOBBY BELPEDIO.

